[jwplayer Kr4uHSZr]
When Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens subbed Grant Williams into Game 7 on Friday, the rookie hadn’t logged a minute prior to the fourth quarter. He would finish with seven minutes of playing time and his performance likely helped saved the Celtics’ season.
Aside from two missed free throws with 35.4 seconds left, Williams played great basketball, especially for a player that finished with zero points. However, he made a number of plays that didn’t show up on the box score and he had a key defensive stop on Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet with 12 seconds left in the game.
With the Celtics up three points, VanVleet took the ball up the court and, after a switch, found Williams matched up on him. VanVleet went to his spot for the difficult game-tying shot but it was partially blocked by Williams and the Celtics held on for the 92-87 win to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Williams earned praise afterward from teammate Marcus Smart.
Oh man, Grant Williams. Big shout out to Grant. The General. He’s not even a rookie anymore the way he plays, the way he sees the game, the way he comes in, he brings the energy. He’s so comfortable. His confidence through this series has risen. He’s hit key 3s for us, he’s played great defense, and when he’s on the court he gives it 110%.
For him to come into a game like that, Game 7, a rookie, to come up with that play, even though he missed those free throws, the fact that he was even in the mix to come up with that rebound [which led to the free-throw attempts] was incredible. Big shout out to Grant Williams.
Though Williams hadn’t played in the first three quarters on Friday, he stayed ready when his number was called and helped the Celtics return to the Eastern Conference Finals. His teammates had trust in him to make those plays and that is a result of the work he has put in.
Williams averaged 11.5 minutes in the series versus the Raptors and proved to be productive during his time on the floor as the Celtics will certainly need him to continue that production in the next round against the Miami Heat.
Game 1 between the Celtics and Heat is expected to begin on Tuesday.
[lawrence-related id=22371,22267,22071]
[vertical-gallery id=22382]